The Basics of Lower Extremity Ultrasound Testing

The lower extremity ultrasound test evaluates for venous thrombosis. Using ultrasound technology, the test examines the blood flow in the major veins and arteries of the lower extremities. This test is often referred to as a Doppler test of the legs.

How the Lower Extremity Ultrasound Test is Done

A technician that is both highly skilled and expertly educated will perform the lower extremity ultrasound test if indicated by your cardiologist in Arizona. The technician applies a water-soluble gel onto your leg. This is done so that the transducer probe can conduct sound waves through your skin and muscle to assess the veins and arteries of your lower extremities. When examining the vessels, the technician will use blood pressure cuffs on your thigh, calf, and ankle. Images are created by the transducer that the technician glides across each areas of your leg.

Serious Conditions of Lower Extremity Vessels

Deep Vein Thrombosis – Often called DVT, deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms deep in the lower extremity. Blood clots occur when your blood is too thick and cells clump together. Most DVT clots occur in the legs, but they can also occur in other areas of the body, such as the arms. A blood clot in a vein can break loose and travel through the bloodstream. When this occurs, it is called an embolus. People with deep vein thrombosis are at great risk for pulmonary embolism or PE. This is a serious condition where the clot damages the lungs.

Venous Insufficiency – With this condition, the veins have trouble sending blood from the legs back to the heart. Venous insufficiency is a chronic condition that occurs because a vein (or multiple veins) is blocked, or when there is blood oozing around the valves of the veins. Normally, the valves in your deep leg veins work to move blood back to the heart so that it does not pool in the lower legs. If they do not do their job, the veins remain engorged with blood. Risk factors include age, genetics, obesity, and female gender.

Superficial Thrombophlebitis – When a vein is inflamed from a blood clot located just below the surface of the skin, it is called superficial thrombophlebitis. With this condition, there usually is an injury to the vein. Risks for superficial thrombophlebitis include chronic leg irritation, infection, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders, varicose veins, and use of birth control pills.

Arteriolosclerosis – Arteries are blood vessels that carry nutrients, oxygen, and blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Healthy arteries are elastic and flexible. Over time, arteries can become stiff and thick from high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure. When this happens, blood flow is restricted. This is known as hardening of the arteries or arteriosclerosis.

What the Results Mean

A normal result means that the blood vessels of your legs show no signs of closure or narrowing, and the arteries have adequate, healthy blood flow. An abnormal result could be due to:

• A blood clot in a vein or artery
• Blockage in an artery by a piece of fat, air bubble, or blood clot
• Narrowing or widening of an artery
• Venous occlusion
• Spastic arterial disease (arterial contraction)

Conclusion

Lower extremity ultrasound is a painless, safe way for the Arizona cardiologist to visualize the vessels of your legs. It can detect the presence of absence of various forms of arterial and vascular disease, such a peripheral vascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, deep venous thrombosis, and superficial thrombosis.

AZ Heart Doctor provides comprehensive noninterventional cardiology services to the greater Phoenix area with offices in Tempe and Mesa AZ. Dr. Yasir Batres is a Double Board Certified cardiologist Phoenix trusts, providing services to a broad range of conditions with services such as event monitoring. Call today (480) 300-4646 for more information and scheduling.